Greenblatt made it clear that NBC's short-term goals are modest as he referred to his network as “in transition” and “in a turnaround.”

“We've very happy that we're No. 3 in adults 18 to 49,” he said. “NBC hasn't finished better than No. 4 since the 2003-04 season.”

While voicing hope for the quirky “Community,” NBC is broadening its approach to sitcoms in an effort to expand beyond the boutique approach that wins acclaim and awards but not time periods.

One of NBC's new sitcoms, “Animal Practice,” centers on a veterinarian who likes animals better than people.

Another, “Go On,” stars Matthew Perry as a sportscaster who joins a support group after the death of his wife.

NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke said that “Go On” will “make you laugh, make you cry,” with its “tons of heart.”

Meanwhile, she said, creative teams at veteran NBC comedies “are trying to embrace the idea of staying true to what their shows are ... but opening up things a little bit and trying to be a little more inclusive.” She offered no examples.

“I don't want to say anything negative about what (‘30 Rock' creator) Tina Fey does, or ‘Parks and Rec,' or ‘The Office' — they're great shows,” said Greenblatt. But they tend to be “a little bit more narrow and more sophisticated than we might want for a real broad audience.”

“We are in this sort of awkward stage of taking what's working at the network, and expand it out and build on that,” Salke said.

Asked about the much-talked-about hiring of Howard Stern as a judge on “America's Got Talent” — with a cross-country transfer of the show to accommodate the New York-based shock jock — NBC alternative programming chief Paul Telegdy said the network was “thrilled” with Stern.

“We'd be delighted if Howard wants to come back,” he added.

If he does, Sharon Osbourne may not be joining him at the judges' table. Osbourne surprised NBC executives with a Twitter posting Tuesday saying she's not returning to the show.

“This is coming out of context and sort of spontaneously, and we don't even know what's going on. And it's probably much ado about nothing,” Greenblatt said.